2017 SuperDraft: Let’s Watch the Combine! Day 1

The 2017 MLS SuperDraft is coming up quickly as the final month of the preseason ticks away. To prepare for the draft, the league is holding its annual player combine and today marks the first set of matches among the youngsters brought in to show off their skills.

As in years past, the combine has been split up into four teams named after four Adidas boot styles — Chaos, Control, Copa, and Tango — who will play a round robin tournament over the next five days, leading up to the SuperDraft itself on Friday the 13th.

Today’s pair of matches will come back to back, starting off at 1:15 when Team Chaos takes on Team Control at 1:15 p.m. PT, they followed by Team Copa vs. Team Tango at 3:00 p.m. PT.

Looking back at the Portland Timbers’ previous picks in the SuperDraft, the side has rarely seemed swayed by performances in the combine, so do not expect a pick based on performance here. Still, the combine can provide a sneak peak at some stand out players and with the Timbers picking at No. 10 this year we very well could see the side’s eventual draft pick in action.

Worth keeping an eye on — whether they will end up with the Timbers or not — include Generation Adidas signees Abu Danladi, Adonijah Reid, Miles Robinson, Shamit Shome, and Jackson Yueill, as well as signed seniors Brandon Aubrey, Julian Gressel, Zeiko Lewis, and Brian Wright. Of course, the Timbers’ most recent forays into the GA — Schillo Tshuma — and signed senior — Nick Besler — pools did not exactly work out for the side, so keep an eye out for other potential prospects as well.

So, let’s watch, speculate, and just maybe get a glimpse of next season’s talent.